Automation Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Automation engineering roles have strong visa sponsorship potential, especially in manufacturing, tech, and pharma. H-1B is the primary path, and employers ranging from Tesla and Amazon to process automation companies regularly sponsor these positions. The role's technical requirements in controls engineering, robotics, or software automation make specialty occupation arguments straightforward. If you're in industrial automation, large manufacturing and energy companies are your best targets. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

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Overview

Open Jobs5,999+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type82% On-site
Salary Range$84K – $119K
Top LocationAustin, TX
Most JobsAutoNation

Showing 5 of 5,999+ automation jobs

New York Technology Partners
Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
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New York Technology Partners
New 1h ago
Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
New York Technology Partners
Hartford, Connecticut
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
On-Site
6+ yrs exp.
None

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Thermo Fisher Scientific
Manufacturing Automation Senior Director
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Thermo Fisher Scientific
New 7h ago
Manufacturing Automation Senior Director
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Austin, Texas
Project & Program Management
Manufacturing Operations
Project Management
Program Management
On-Site
10+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Greif
Automation Controls & Electro-Mechanical Technician
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Greif
New 7h ago
Automation Controls & Electro-Mechanical Technician
Greif
Austell, Georgia
Manufacturing Operations
Maintenance & Repair
Skilled Trades
$33.00/hr - $38.00/hr
On-Site
None

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Northern Arizona University
Manager, Building Automation and Commissioning
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Northern Arizona University
New 7h ago
Manager, Building Automation and Commissioning
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
Project & Program Management
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Project Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
On-Site
None

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Carrier
Sr. Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing Automation
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Carrier
New 8h ago
Sr. Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing Automation
Carrier
Charlotte, North Carolina
Specialized Engineering
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Project & Program Management
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
Project Management
$146,750/yr - $205,250/yr
On-Site
10+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Automation

Specialize in a high-demand automation niche

Industrial robotics programming (FANUC, ABB, KUKA), RPA development (UiPath, Automation Anywhere), or DevOps and CI/CD pipeline automation are distinct specializations with strong employer demand. Picking a niche and building deep expertise makes you harder to replace and gives employers a clearer justification for sponsoring your H-1B petition.

Target manufacturing companies investing in Industry 4.0

Companies like Rockwell Automation, Siemens, ABB, Honeywell, and Emerson Electric are at the forefront of industrial automation and regularly sponsor engineers for PLC programming, SCADA system design, and smart manufacturing roles. These companies have established immigration processes and actively recruit from U.S. engineering programs.

Leverage STEM OPT for extended work authorization

Automation-related engineering and computer science degrees qualify for STEM OPT, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Use this time to complete certifications, build expertise on real projects, and demonstrate your value to an employer before they commit to H-1B sponsorship.

Consider consulting firms that deploy automation solutions

Firms like Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, and specialized automation consultancies hire RPA developers and automation consultants to implement solutions across client organizations. Consulting roles in automation combine technical skills with business process knowledge and have clear specialty occupation arguments.

Build a portfolio of automation projects and measurable results

Documenting specific automation projects, including the technologies used and the measurable impact such as cycle time reduction, error rate improvement, or cost savings, provides concrete evidence for your H-1B petition. Immigration attorneys can reference quantified achievements to demonstrate that your role requires specialized professional expertise.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do companies sponsor H-1B visas for automation professionals?

Yes, automation roles are strong candidates for H-1B sponsorship because they require specialized degrees in engineering, computer science, or related STEM fields. Companies across manufacturing, technology, and consulting regularly sponsor automation engineers, robotics engineers, and RPA developers. The demand for automation expertise continues to grow as companies invest in operational efficiency and digital transformation.

What types of automation roles are most commonly sponsored?

Industrial automation engineers (PLCs, SCADA, robotics), software automation engineers (CI/CD, test automation), RPA developers (UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism), and process automation consultants are all commonly sponsored. Manufacturing automation roles at companies like Rockwell Automation, Siemens, and ABB are strong candidates, as are DevOps and test automation roles at technology companies.

Is automation engineering considered STEM for OPT purposes?

Yes, automation-related degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and robotics are STEM-designated. This qualifies graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, providing up to 36 months of work authorization after graduation. Even within manufacturing or industrial engineering programs, most CIP codes fall under the STEM designation.

Do I need specific certifications for automation roles requiring visa sponsorship?

While not legally required for the visa itself, industry certifications significantly strengthen both your job applications and the H-1B petition. Certifications like Certified Automation Professional (CAP) from ISA, UiPath Certified RPA Developer, Automation Anywhere Certified Advanced RPA Professional, and AWS or Azure DevOps certifications demonstrate specialized expertise that supports the specialty occupation argument.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Automation jobs?

When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a automation in California will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.

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